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In a survey of 3,299 oncologists (all members of the American Society of Clinical Oncology), researchers found:

Support

22.5% supported the use of physician-assisted suicide for a "terminally ill patient with unremitting pain"

6.5% supported the use of euthanasia for a "terminally ill patient with unremitting pain"

Willingness

15.6% were "personally willing to provide physician-assisted suicide for a patient in excruciating pain"

2% were "personally willing to provide euthanasia for a patient in excruciating pain"

Patient Requests

56.2% "had requests" for physician-assisted suicide during their career

38.2% "had requests" for euthanasia during their career

Clinical Practice

10.8% "had performed physician-assisted suicide" during their career

3.7% "had performed euthanasia" during their career

(Annals of Internal Medicine, Oct. 2000)

3. "Attitudes and Practices Concerning the End of Life: A Comparison Between Physicians From the United States and From the Netherlands"(Source: Dick Willems, MD, PhD et al. )

In interviews with 152 physicians from Oregon, researchers found:

In cases where patients were facing excruciating pain

53% of physicians answered yes or probably yes to the question: "Would it have been all right, upon request from the patient, to intentionally prescribe drugs so the patient could end his or her life by overdose?"

24% of physicians answered yes or probably yes to the question: "Would it have been all right, upon request from the patient, to administer intravenous drugs, such as potassium, to intentionally end the patient's life?"

In cases where patients have a few months to live and are debilitated due to terminal cancer but have no pain

37% of physicians answered yes or probably yes to the question: "Would it have been all right, upon request from the patient, to intentionally prescribe drugs so the patient could end his or her life by overdose?"

14% of physicians answered yes or probably yes to the question: "Would it have been all right, upon request from the patient, to administer intravenous drugs, such as potassium, to intentionally end the patient's life?"

(Archives of Internal Medicine, Jan. 10, 2000)

4. "The Practice of Euthanasia and Physician-Assisted Suicide in the United States: Adherence to Proposed Safeguards and Effects on Physicians"(Source: Ezekiel Emanuel, MD, PhD et al. )

In interviews with 355 oncologists throughout the United States, researchers found: